Due to a recent accident with my long interconnects I have placed my Classe CA-2200 amp in the bottom shelf of my Billy Bags rack and placed the system center of the speakers. It really sounds great there and looks stunning. Problem might be that there is very little air space between the top of the amp and the next shelf, about 1/2 of an inch. There is no restrictions on the sides, front or back, all is very open. I did put a temp probe on the top and the hottest place I could find measured a max of 104 degrees F. This was after playing for a few hours, metalica, symphony, LP's and SACD's, the most dynamic stuff I could find. The heat sinks on the sides were in the 96 degree range at worst. The amp does have thermal protection shut of but would like others experience with limited top circulation. I do think that the Classe disipates heat well with the side fins so this may be helping. Opinions welcome.

As long as it sounds and looks great after playing all day as you say, I would not be too concerned. Those temperatures are not really all that high for an amp like the Classe'. Operating ranges are usually quite higher than we think.

Make sure the component on the next level up is not getting its feet too warm. You may need to isolate it from the heat if the bottom has no clearance. This may or may not be a long term situation???

As long as you have that air space around the sides and front of the amp you ought to be ok. Many years ago I put a pair of Krell MDA300 monoblocks INSIDE of a closed (custom built) cabinet that had absolutely no ventilation whatsoever. Couldn't run the system with the doors closed for obvious reasons. Checked the internal temp once with a digital thermometer- 180 degrees! Crazy. Stupid. Then I discovered a company in California, ATM, or Active Thermal Management. Bought a complete ventilation system with attic mounted "hush" fan, ducting, variable speed control, louvered intake vents. All for about $500. Literally lowered the internal cabinet temp. by 80 degrees. Well worth the money. ATM makes many different types and styles of ventilation and/or heat exhaust systems, even "free standing" fan contraptions with sensors. I even have one of their 2 fan setups sitting on top of my DAC blowing fresh air into the vent cutouts on the chassis. Been a while since I did business with them but check them out. I think they still exist. Good luck.

Ok fellow A-gon posters I know this is not my topic, but i have a question regarding heat that i would like to hear from you all about- How hot is too hot?

I have tackled my heat problems with custom installed exhaust systems and free standing fans on sensors, and now i now longer have heat issues. So what i did to rectify the problem worked for me. But i have often wondered how much heat does it take to tip the scales into the danger zone? It's fair to say that heat, excess heat, is a killer on certain components. So when might it become a component slayer? Opinions and input please.

Mr M- What, "heat issues" did you actually encounter(early failure, thermal sensor shutdowns)? Data sheets, on most electronic components, contain max design thermal info (http://ixdev.ixys.com/DataSheet/L187.pdf) (http://www.partsconnexion.com/PDF/e-fw.pdf). Semiconductors, desined for mounting on a heatsink, will have a max junction temp, that should be avoided (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junction_temperature). There's no doubt that elevated temps shorten component life(varies widely, with the part/component). If in doubt, as to the range(ambient temps) your equipment is best suited for: contact the designer, for their recommendations.

Hello Rodman99999, Yeah it was a thermal sensor thing. Amps just got too damn hot to be housed inside of a closed cabinet. Happened with solid state Audio Research and also with Krell. Learning experience that prompted 2 actions: (1)never put hot running amps inside of a cabinet again. So I moved them out in the room next to the speakers on amp stands. Isn't that pretty much what everybody does anyway? (2)installed a custom ventilation/heat exhaust system in my cabinet. Problem solved.

I really never should have been swayed by the W.A.F. in the first place, but she wanted everything to look all nice and neat inside of a cabinet that she deemed "classy". Any type of free-standing Audiophile equipment rack just wouldn't do. If mama's happy then everybody's happy. If mama ain't happy....well you know what I'm sayin'.

My concerns about what is TOO MUCH heat? stem from the fear of having some kind of "random" thermo-nuclear meltdown due to higher ambient temperatures inside of a closed cabinet. Something self-inflicted that I could control if I knew better. Nothing specific to any such brand or model of gear. Heat is a normal part of operation with many types of electronics and I am aware of that, but my thoughts have more to do with what would be considered by many as "higher" than normal temperatures, and how it may affect the lifespan of certain pieces of gear. I currently have a (tube) preamp, as well as a DAC that both generate signifigant amounts of heat when they've been on for a few hours. Thank God for my ventilation system otherwise those 2 pieces of gear may well have taken a shit by now. The internal temperatures of my custom-built cabinet can range from 80 degrees on a good day, (when the weather outside is cooler), to 100 degrees on a summer day. While that doesn't sound all that hot, it is constant, it is consistent, which is what concerns me a bit. Without the ventilation and heat exhaust system, the internal temp's can easily top 180 degrees. So I am certain the vent/cooling system is working properly. Just pondering the "worst" case scenerio of having 100 degree air constantly present inside the cabinet, and how that may ultimately affect my gear, that's all. B.A.T. and Theta Digital both say no problem. I'm good with that and I believe them. Just wanting to get other Audiophiles' thoughts and input on the subject. Thanks for your response and advice, so far. Peace.